Critical Countdown 2005 is the second round of the PRIDE FC 2005 Middleweight(205lbs) Grand Prix. After a lackluster opening round(Total Elimination 2005) many people were wondering if the it was posible for the same to happen for two events in a row. But as is usally the case with the premiere MMA company in the world, PRIDE did not disappoint.

Here is a rundown on the card:

SERGEI KHARITONOV vs PEDRO RIZZO - 9/10
- One of PRIDE's rising heavyweights takes on a former contender to the UFC heavyweight title. Short, brutal, and sweet; a tremendous way to begin the event.

MAURICIO "SHOGUN" RUA vs ANTONIO ROGERIO NOGUEIRA - 10/10
- This is a quarter final matchup in the Middleweight Grand Prix. The resulting war between these two men is an absolute classic. One of the greatest MMA fights of the year 2005.

ALLISTAIR OVEREEM VS IGOR VOVCHANCHYN - 8/10
- This is a quarter final matchup in the Middleweight Grand Prix. A quick fight that may surprise you

MIRKO "CRO COP" FILIPOVIC VS IBRAGIM MAGOMEDOV - 9/10
- Cro Cop gets what on paper is supposed to be a tuneup fight before his epic encounter with the World Heavyweight Champion, Fedor Emelianenko. Tremendous fight with a great KO finish.

KIYOSHI TAMURA vs MAKOTO TAKIMOTO - 6/10
- The only somewhat dull fight on the card. With that said, there are some spurts of entertaining action throughout.

ANTONIO RODRIGO NOGUEIRA VS PAWEL NASTULA - 8/10
- Pawel Nastula, an Olympic Gold Medalist in Judo, makes his MMA debut against Rodrigo Nogueira, the #2 ranked Heavyweight in the world. A fight that on paper looks like a baptism by fire.

RICARDO ARONA VS KAZUSHI SAKURABA - 9/10
- This is a quarter final matchup in the Middleweight Grand Prix. One of the favorites to win the tournament, Ricardo Arona, takes on arguably the greatest fighter in the history of the sport, Kazushi Sakuraba. Could the legendary Sakuraba dig deep down into himself to put forth yet another incredible performance? Or would the powerful Ricardo Arona be far too strong? Tremendous fight with an ending that may make you cringe.

WANDERLEI SILVA VS KAZUHIRO NAKAMURA - 9/10
- This is a quarter final matchup in the Middleweight Grand Prix. The current PRIDE FC Middleweight Champion and the #1 ranked 205lbs fighter in the world, Wanderlei Silva, takes on a top 10 ranked Kazuhiro Nakamura. Silva is the unstoppable bull while Nakamura is the valiant defender and has the hometown crowd ecstaticly pulling for him the entire way. Both men basically throw down and swing for the fences until one man goes down.

Overall, this is a tremendous leadup to one of the greatest shows in MMA history, Final Conflict 2005.(The finals of the Middleweight Grand Prix) The Rua vs Nogueira fight is worth the price of this DVD alone, but on top of that you get also get six other very entertaining fights featuring the greatest fighters in the world.